Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan says the club will support Lachie Neale if he chooses to leave after next season in the wake of his sad marriage breakdown. Neale stepped down as Brisbane’s co-captain last week after fronting reporters to address his split with wife Jules and revealing that he’d let his family down.
Jules has moved back to Perth with their two children after a public fallout with former close friend Tess Crosley and her husband Ben. The 35-year-old announced her split with Neale after taking to social media to respond to reports they were experiencing marital problems.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan (L) says Lachie Neale (far right) would be given the club’s blessing if he wants to move back to WA after splitting from wife Jules (centre). Pic: Getty
“I want to make it very clear that I am not ‘working through’ anything,” Jules wrote on Instagram. “I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way. All I can do now is try to heal and do what’s best for my children. Thank you for the love and support. “
Lions superstar Neale has also moved out of the former couple’s home and into a new place in Brisbane. But there is a growing sense the 32-year-old could seek a move back to WA at the end of the season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent – in order to be closer to his kids.
There are suggestions Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale could move back to WA to be closer to his kids at the end of the AFL season. Pic: Getty
“I don’t know the answer to that… I hope he does (stay), but he’s an unrestricted free agent,” Fagan said in response to questions about the dual premiership star’s future on Thursday. “So he can make a call on what he needs to do. He probably needs the next six or seven months to see what the next right step is.
“I hope he stays and plays with us. But if he chooses to move back to Perth, because he needs to be close to his children, then he’ll do that with our blessing. We’re not going to hold anyone to ransom. We’ll just go along with the flow on that.”
Brisbane coach praises Lachie Neale for addressing split
Fagan admitted Neale’s marriage breakdown was a “sad” situation for the entire Neale family and the club. But the Lions coach said it was the dual Brownlow Medallist’s decision to address the situation and he showed a “real sense of responsibility” in doing so.
“Obviously, sad for Jules, sad for Lachie, sad for the children, sad that it’s become such a public thing,” Fagan said. “But our job as a footy club, as we do with all of our players, is that they all make mistakes from time to time because they’re human…
“We’ll look after him. I thought it was pretty brave what he did last week. He stood up and owned it. Not many people have to do that in the community… He wasn’t forced to do that by anyone. I thought that showed really good emotional intelligence and a real sense of responsibility, so I admire him for that.”